Door regulating devices



March 3, 1970 J. L. MERAYO DOOR REGULAIING DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 29, 1966 NE 0: 5 Na g Q E E 5 INVENTOR cu Q JOSE L. MERAYOREVUELTA ATTORNEYS.

March 3, 1970 J. E. MERAYO 3,497,904

DOOR REGULATING DEVICES Filed Dec. 29, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJOSE L. MERAYO REVUELTA JLWL EN 5w 'IIIIIIIIIIA lnmrllrluwl III.

ma @8 i p 52 8. EN NT M Mmmmwmmm w A P i w. -1 mi 4% m M I i a @5ATTORNEYS March 3, 1970 J. E. MERAYO DOOR REGULATING DEVICES 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 29, 1966 INVENTOR JOSE L. MERAYO REVUELTA g; u-g a ATTORNEY- Ill United States Patent O 3,497,904 DOOR REGULATINGDEVICES Jose L. Merayo, Ayala 10, Madrid, Spain Filed Dec. 29, 1966,Ser. No. 605,803 Claims priority, application Spain, Dec. 30, 1965,321,361; June 7, 1966, 327,654; July 6, 1966,

Int. Cl. Ef 3/10 US. Cl. 1652 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Doorclosing and position regulating devices having articulated bar meansconnected to a piston within a dual, fluid containing chamber, andhaving means for changeably controlling the fluid pressure, the devicesbeing substantially concealed within the door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to improvements in devices for the control of movement of doorsof various types, the devices including means for regulation of theclosing tension and speed of the doors. The devices hereof include a baror rod articulated at two locations to allow the door to pivot or toremain in an open position up to a swing of substantially 180, and theclosing speed as well as the magnitude of the swing and tension arecontrolled by regulating screws.

Description of the prior art In prior devices for regulation of theswing of doors, it has been conventional to employ exposed spring actionor hydraulic mechanisms which resist the opening or closing motion ofthe door and/or constantly urge the door to a closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a basic objective of the presentinvention to provide door regulation devices which are adapted forconcealment within a door structure and which have improved operationalcharacteristics. Concealed mechanisms of the type hereinafter disclosedare considered advantageous in that they do not detract from theappearance of the completed door structure, and are less likely tobecome contaminated by dust and dirt.

The invention relates to door closing and regulating assemblies whichinclude jointed rod sections in association with hydraulic restrainingmeans and return springs, all concealed within the door structure.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will occur to thoseskilled in the art from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a top view of a door witha regulating device constructed and assembled in accordance with theteachings of this invention in place thereon;

FIGURE 2 discloses the door of FIGURE 1 in an open position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged scale, foreshortened sectional view takensubstantially on the section line 3--3 of FIG- URE 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a partial top plan view showing a modification;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4,looking in the direction of the arrows;

M e Ice 3,497,904

Patented Mar. 3, 197 0 FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view showingdetails, taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIGURE 7 is another detail view, here taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 5,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a third form ofthe invention;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are transverse sectional views on lines 99 and 10-10,respectively, of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view, partially in cross section, of the rodmeans in one form;

FIGURE 12 is a detail view substantially on the line 1212 of FIGURE 11,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 13 shows a further modification of the rod means; and

FIGURE 14 discloses still another form of the rod assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGURES 1 through 3 a doorregulating assembly 20 hereof is shown in the environment of a doorframe 22 having a first side 24, a second side 26, and an inner edge 28stepped outwardly at 30 to conceal portions of the assembly. Theassembly 20 is also mounted on a door 32 with first and second sides 34,36 corresponding to the first and second sides of the frame and havingan inner edge 38 with a step 40 arranged oppositely with respect to thestep 30 and having an outer edge 42. As shown, the door is hinged to theframe at 43 and the respective steps define an open space for a portionof the mechanism. The door has a top edge 44 with a compound chamber 46opening thereon. If desired, the chamber may be located at the bottom ofthe door, or alternatively, chambers may be at both the top and thebottom of the door. The chamber 46 includes an enlarged porion 48extending from the edge 42 to an intermediate location, and a reducedportion 50 of the chamber extends to the door edge 38.

Bolt means 52 for anchorage of the assembly 20 to the frame 22 includesan imbedded stud 54 with a projecting clevis 56. The bolt means isconnected to rod means 58 comprising a first, short link 60 pivoted tothe clevis 56 at one end. An elongated main rod section 62 has a clevis64 pivoted to the short link and has an inner clevis 66. Intermediateits ends, the main section has an interposed bolt 68 for selectivevariance of its length. The rod means further includes a piston rod 70pivoted to the main rod at the clevis 66 and including a threaded outerend 72 with a nut 74 thereon for a purpose appearing below.

Mounted within the enlarged section 48 of the chamber is a casing 76retained in place at its ends by bracket clips 78, each secured to thedoor by elongated screws 82. The bracket 78 is of inverted U-shape toadmit the piston rod 70 between its legs, and bracket 80 is similarlyformed for a purpose appearing below. A closure wall 84 is threadedlyengaged in the casing adjacent its proximal end 86, and has a centralbore 88 therein admitting the piston rod 70. The bore 88 has a fluidretaining packing element 90 therein which permits the rod toreciprocate without fluid loss. The opposite or distal end 92 of thecasing is closed by a closure wall 94 having a plug body 96 therein witha threaded aperture 98. A needle valve stem 100 is mounted in theaperture 98 and has suitable packing 102 thereabout and an operatinghandle 104.

A valve body 106 is disposed against the closure wall 94 within the end92 of the casing and has an end 108 defining a chamber 110. Reliefpassageways 112, with closure walls 114, are formed in the body 106, andthe latter also has a main passageway 116 therein which is linearlyaligned with the valve 100 and may be closed, or partially restricted inopening diameter, by movement of the valve thereinto.

A plug body 118 is threadedly engaged in the end 86 ahead of the closurewall 84 and is spaced therefrom by a spring 120. The body has a centralopening 122 admitting the piston rod 70 therethrough.

A sleeve or liner 124 of reduced length and volume with respect to theouter casing is supported between the plug body 118 and the valve body106. Fluid communication from the space 126 between the liner and thecasing is provided by plural openings 128 formed in the liner adjacentthe plug body 118. A measured quantity of oil, or some other fluidmaterial of suitable viscosity, is disposed within the liner and easing.

Slidably mounted within liner 124 is a piston 130 which is retained onthe piston rod end 72 by the nut 74. The piston has laterally spacedrelief openings 132 extending longitudinally therethrough. The openingsare normal- 1y closed by a ring 134 against which an enlarged coil 1spring 136 is seated. The opposite end 138 of the spring is seatedagainst the plug body 118. In that position, the spring constantly urgesthe piston to the position shown in FIGURE 3.

With the components in the relation shown in FIG- URE 1, the bias of thespring 136 against the piston tends to maintain the elements in extendedposition wherein the door remains in its closed position. Deflection ofthe door upon opening compresses the spring and forces fluid through theopenings 128 into the space 126. Return of the spring is resisted byfluid pressure, and the closing of the valve 98 thereby blocking thechamber 110 may be effective to lock the door in a selected position. Itwill further be observed that the articulation of the rods as shown inFIGURE 2 results in a tendency of the door to remain in its extreme openposition therein shown.

In FIGURES 5 through 7, a first modified embodiment of the invention isshown, similar and analogous elements being differentiated fromcorresponding elements of the first described form of the invention bythe appending of the letter a to the reference numerals thereof. In thisform of the device, the casing 76a is of substantially square crosssection and its end 92a is sealed by a closure valve body 106w having anL-shaped passage 200 therein comprised of a narrow section 202 and awide section 204 which extends through a neck section 206. The necksection supports a valve stem 100a the movement of which is controlledby a handle 104a. The opposite end of the casing 76a is closed by aclosure wall 84a with a passageway 88a therein to admit passage of thepiston rod 70a. A liner 124a of circular cross section is supportedbetween a reduced forward portion 208 of the wall 84a and acorresponding portion of the valve body 106a. A spring retainer 210 ismounted within the casing ahead of the wall 84a, and a wall backing plug212 is extended about the neck 206 of the valve 106a.

The plug 212 is provided with a plugged opening 213 for filling thecasing with oil. The casing 76a is secured, as by welding or otherwise,to plates 214 and 216 secured by wood screws 218, or the like, in theenlarged section 48a of the chamber 46a. The piston 130a, retained bythe rod 70a by anut 74a, has relief openings 132a therein with closureballs 220 restricting fluid passage in a fore-to-aft direction, butpermitting such flow in an opposite direction.

FIGURES 8 through 12 show still another embodiment 20b of the inventionin which the casing 76b has a casing 13% mounted on a rod 70b as beforedescribed. As shown in FIGURE 10, the retainer plate 4 216 has anupstanding yoke 300. The forward valve body 106b is held in place by aflat wall 212b.

In FIGURE 11, the main rod 62b is shown. The rod 62b has a clevis 66b atone end and a similar connection 64b at its opposite end. Intermediatethese ends, a length adjustment means 68b is disposed. The means 68bcomprises an internally threaded sleeve 302 engaging the externallythreaded ends 304, 306 of the rod end section, each of which has a limitnut 308 thereon. As is clear from the drawing, rotation of the sleevesserves to effect a change in the length of the rod. As further shown inthis view, the rod link section 60b is pivoted to the inner section atthe clevis 64b and has a tube 310 about its opposite end with a slot 312formed therein. The section 60b has a socket 314 formed thereinreceiving a captive ball 316 on the end 56b of an anchor stud 54bwhereby a pivotal connection is effected.

FIGURE 13 discloses a modification wherein a spring 400 comprises asection of the link 60c, employed where flexibility of this joint isnecessary, while in FIGURE 14 the link 60d is longitudinally adjustableby virtue of the threaded engagement of a first, externally threadedsection 500 in the open, internally threaded second end 502.

Operation of the latter forms of the invention basically involves theprinciples discussed above with respect to that shown in FIGURES 1through 3. In each form of the invention, the operating components areconcealed within the door frame and the door, the mechanism beingcharacterized by the incorporation of a hydraulic spring body within thedoor with an articulated rod system, and having means to regulate thetension or closing speed of the door.

What is claimed is: I

1. A door regulating device comprising, in combination,

an elongate rectangular casing adapted to be recessed within a door andhaving opposite end closures,

a cylindrical liner within said casing having opposite end walls anddefining a reservoir chamber within said casing exterior to said liner.

a piston slidably received in said liner defining first and secondchambers on opposite sides thereof and having a piston rod projectingthrough one of said end walls and a corresponding end closure of saidcasing,

the other of said end walls and the corresponding end closure of thecasing defining and end chamber there- Between in communication withsaid reservoir chamadjustable bleed valve means comunicating said endchamber and first chamber,

port means communicating said reservoir chamber with said secondchamber,

spring means normally urging said piston in the direction toward saidend chamber,

second port means communicating said end chamber with said firstchamber,

and check valve means in said second port means for freely filling saidfirst chamber from said reservoir chamber through said end chamber uponmovement of said piston in opposition to said spring means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,121 3/1915 Daly 16512,707,796 5/1955 Hawks 16--52 3,057,003 10/1962 Sogoian 1652 3,177,5174/1965 Eglauf 16-61 FOREIGN PATENTS 399,947 4/ 1966 Switzerland.

314,590 6/1956 Switzerland.

182,056 5/ 1955 Germany.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner J. L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner

